Retaining arrangement for key holders

ABSTRACT

A retaining arrangement retains a key holder of a type having a tag suspended from a ring with the ring also holding at least one key. The retaining arrangement includes a panel. A plurality of slots is defined by the panel. Each slot is shaped and dimensioned to receive the tag of the key holder through it such that the key of the key holder lies on one side of the panel and the tag lies on an opposed, operatively outer side of the panel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase application based onPCT/AU01/00466, filed Apr. 24, 2001, the content of which isincorporated herein by reference, and claims the priority of AustralianPatent Application Nos. PQ7092, filed Apr. 26, 2000, and PR 2020, filedDec. 12, 2000, the content of both of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a retaining arrangement. More particularly,the invention relates to a retaining arrangement for retaining at leastone key holder. The key holder is of a type comprising a tag suspendedfrom a ring. The ring also holds at least one key and often includesadditional items such as remote control devices.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Where a large number of keys are stored at a central location it isimportant to be able to ascertain readily when such keys are absent.Examples of places where a large number of key holders are locatedinclude motor vehicle service stations, motor vehicle sales lots, acaretaker's office in a building, a real estate office, or the like.

Further, it is often necessary to be able to make those keys availableto personnel for various purposes and, in such circumstances, a personin authority must be able to determine if any keys have been removedfrom the central location.

To date, as far as the applicant is aware, keys have been stored onboards by being suspended from hooks. Such storage arrangements are notsecure and any unauthorised personnel can easily remove key holders fromsuch storage arrangements.

These storage arrangements may, if desired, be contained within acabinet. However, once the cabinet has been opened, unauthorised accesscan again be gained to the key holders on the storage arrangement.

In addition, the key holders are not securely held on such a storagearrangement and they often fall off.

Still further, when there are a large number of key holders on such astorage arrangement it is difficult to tell if any key holders have beenremoved, particularly where the key holders contain large bunches ofkeys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a retaining arrangementfor retaining a key holder of a type comprising a tag suspended from aring with the ring also holding at least one key, the retainingarrangement including:

a surface defining element; and

at least one retaining means defined by the surface defining element,the at least one retaining means being shaped and dimensioned to receivethe tag of the key holder through it such that the at least one key ofthe key holder lies on one side of the surface defining element and thetag lies on an opposed, operatively outer side of the surface definingelement.

Preferably, the surface defining element is a planar element in the formof a panel.

The at least one retaining means may be in the form of a substantiallyT-shaped slot defined in the panel, the slot being shaped anddimensioned to hold the key on said one side of the panel, the ringbeing at least partially received within the slot and the tag beingarranged on the opposed side of the panel.

The slot may be substantially cruciform in shape having a longitudinalpart and a transverse part which intersects the longitudinal part. Thetransverse part of the slot may intersect the longitudinal part inwardlyof one end of the longitudinal part so that said one end of thelongitudinal part extends beyond the transverse part. If desired, thetransverse part may have a stepped or castellated appearance forfacilitating insertion of the tag through the slot. The longitudinalpart of the slot may have a length which allows it to accommodate thering of more than one key holder.

Preferably, a plurality of slots is defined in the surface definingelement so that the surface defining element can hold a number of keyholders.

The surface defining element may include a mounting formation formounting it to a support structure. The mounting formation may be ahinge for hingedly attaching the surface defining element to the supportstructure. The arrangement may include a locking means carried on thesurface defining element for locking the surface defining element inposition relative to the support structure. Accordingly, it will beappreciated that the surface defining element may be pivotally arranged,via its hinge, relative to the support structure to pivot between afirst, locked position and a second, unlocked position.

The support structure may include a backing member which is arrangedadjacent the one side of the surface defining element so that, when thesurface defining element is in its locked position relative to thesupport structure, the backing member inhibits unauthorised removal ofthe key holder from its associated slot of the surface defining element.

More particularly, the backing member may be a second surface definingelement hingedly carried by the support structure, the surface definingelements being spaced from each other by a gap so that, when bothsurface defining elements are in their locked position, the gap has awidth dimension, as measured between the one side of the surfacedefining element and an operatively outer side of the second surfacedefining element, which is less than a length of a shortest key carriedby a key holder of either surface defining element for inhibitingunauthorised withdrawal of the key holder from its associated surfacedefining element. In addition, where the key holder holds thin keys, ie,keys not much thicker than the tag, an excluder element may be mountedon the ring of the key holder. The excluder element may be a block ofsynthetic plastics material which is significantly larger than thetransverse part of the slot to inhibit withdrawal of the excluderelement through the transverse part of the slot.

The gap may be defined by complementary lips extending at right anglesfrom the surface defining elements, the lips abutting or overlying oneanother when both surface defining elements are in their locked positionrelative to the support structure.

Instead of the backing member being another surface defining element,the backing member may, for example, be a back wall of the supportstructure or may be a sheet of an elastomeric material which lies inclose proximity to, or bear against, the surface defining element whenthe surface defining element is in its locked position.

Preferably, the support structure is a cabinet with the, or each,surface defining element being hingedly mounted in a chamber defined bythe cabinet.

The chamber may be closed off by a closure element, the closure elementincluding a locking device for locking it in position relative to thecabinet. The closure element may be the surface defining element. Inthat event, the locking device of the closure element may be the lockingmeans of the surface defining element.

The closure element and a closure element surround of the cabinet mayhave anti-jemmying features for inhibiting unauthorised access beinggained to the chamber of the cabinet.

The anti-jemmying features of the surround and of the closure elementmay comprise complementary re-entrant lips. Should an attempt be made tojemmy such lips, it causes the lip of the closure element to engage thelip of the surround to lock the closure element in position relative tothe surround. In addition, the lip of the closure element may beinterrupted by slots, to effectively form a plurality of tabs so thateach tab is individually movable with respect to its adjacent tabs inthe event that that tab is jemmied.

The cabinet may be portable, the arrangement including a mounting meansfor mounting the cabinet to a backing structure. The mounting means mayinclude a securing means for lockably securing the cabinet to thebacking structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a retaining arrangement, inaccordance with the invention, for retaining a key holder;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the retaining arrangement ofFIG. 1, in use;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the retaining arrangementretaining a plurality of key holders;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the retaining arrangement;

FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the retaining arrangementmounted in a support structure;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic, three-dimensional representation of thesupport structure;

FIG. 7 shows, on an enlarged scale, part of a mounting means associatedwith the support structure;

FIG. 8 shows, on an enlarged scale, a further part of the mountingmeans;

FIG. 9 shows a three-dimensional, schematic view of an embodiment of aretaining arrangement assembly;

FIG. 10 shows a three-dimensional view of the support structure of theretaining arrangement assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a front view of the retaining arrangement of the assemblyof FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows a front view of part of another embodiment of theretaining arrangement;

FIG. 13 shows a three-dimensional, schematic view of the part of theretaining arrangement of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows a schematic, sectional side view of the part of theretaining arrangement of FIGS. 12 and 13;

FIG. 15 shows a three-dimensional view of how the part of the retainingarrangement of FIG. 12 is mounted in a support structure;

FIG. 16 shows a schematic, sectional plan view of the retainingarrangement assembly including anti-jemmying features thereof;

FIG. 17 shows, on an enlarged scale, the anti-jemmying features of partof the retaining arrangement assembly;

FIG. 18 shows a three-dimensional view of a closure element of thesupport structure showing its anti-jemmying features; and

FIG. 19 shows, on an enlarged scale, the anti-jemmying features of theclosure element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designate a retainingarrangement, in accordance with the invention, for retaining a keyholder. The retaining arrangement 10, preferably, is used for retaininga number of key holders 20. The retaining arrangement 10 comprises asurface defining element in the form of a panel 12. The panel 12 has aplurality of retaining means defined therein. Each retaining means is inthe form of a cruciform-shaped slot 14. Each slot 14 has a longitudinalpart 16 and a transverse part 18. The transverse part 18 intersects thelongitudinal part 16 below an end 16.1 of the longitudinal part toimpart the cruciform shape to the slot 14. As indicated at 17 in FIG. 2of the drawings, the transverse part 16 of the slot 14 is castellated orstepped to facilitate insertion of a tag 24 of the key holder 20 intothe slot 14.

The retaining arrangement 10 is intended particularly for use with keyholders 20 of the type having a ring 22 carrying a tag 24. One or morekeys 26 and other devices such as a remote control device 28 are alsoarranged on the ring 22. In addition where thin keys are carried on thekey holder 20, an excluder block 23 is also attached to the ring 22. By“thin key” is meant a key having a thickness approximately the same asthe tag 24 and the width of the transverse part 18 of the slot 14. Incontrast, the excluder block 23 has length, width and height dimensionswhich are much greater than the width of the transverse part 18 of theslot 14 to inhibit withdrawal of the thin key through the transversepart 18 of the slot 14.

The length of the transverse part 18 of the slot corresponds to a widthof the tag 24 of the key holder 20 so that, when the tag 24 of the keyholder 20 is inserted through the transverse part 18 of the slot 14, thering 22 is received in the longitudinal part 16 of the slot 14. In thisposition, the key 26 and the remote control device 28 of the key holder20 are retained on one side 12.1 of the panel 12 with the tag 24 lyingon an opposed, operatively outer side 30 (FIG. 4) of the panel 12.

The panel 12 includes a mounting formation in the form of a hinge 32 formounting it to a support structure such as a cabinet 34 (FIG. 5). Thepanel 12 can either form a door 36 (FIG. 5) of the cabinet 34 or thepanel 12 can be received as an insert 38 as shown in FIG. 9 of thedrawings. In the latter case, the hinge 32 is a “drop-in” type of hingeto allow the insert 38 to be removed from the cabinet 34 to be carried.A handle 39 is arranged on the insert 38 for this purpose. Further, forthis purpose, the interior of the cabinet 34 has a frame 72 (FIG. 15).The frame 72 includes a pair of horizontally extending flanges 74. Theflanges 74 have corresponding, aligned holes 76 defined therethrough.

Where the panel 12 is used as a door of the cabinet 34, the panel 12includes a lock 42 for locking it in a locked position relative to thecabinet 34. Only predetermined personnel may have keys which fit thelock 42. When the panel 12 is in the form of the insert 38 in thecabinet 34, as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the cabinet 34 includesa separate door 44 having two locks, one being shown at 46. Only one ortwo authorised persons may have keys for the lock 46. The other lockmay, for example, be an electronic combination lock to which additionalpersonnel have the combination code.

The cabinet 34 is a portable device and includes a handle 48. Inaddition, to mount the cabinet 34 on a backing structure such as a wall50 (FIG. 6) the retaining arrangement includes a mounting means in theform of a plurality of mounting brackets 52, 53. One of two mountingbrackets 52 is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 7 of the drawings.Each bracket 52 includes a backing plate 54 which is secured to the wall50. An upwardly turned tab 56 extends from a bottom edge of the backingplate 54. The tab 56 is received in an associated slot 58 in a rear wall60 of the cabinet 34.

A single mounting bracket 53 is provided and is shown on an enlargedscale in FIG. 8 of the drawings. The bracket 53 also includes a backingplate 62 securable to the wall 50. A tab 64 projects at substantiallyright angles from a bottom edge of the backing plate 62. The tab 64 hasa hole 66 defined in it. The tab 64 of the bracket 53 is received in aslot 68 in the rear wall 60 of the cabinet 34 and a securing means inthe form of a securing pin 70 is removably received through the hole 66in the tab 64 for retaining the cabinet 34 in position on the wall 50.

Referring now to FIG. 12 of the drawings, another embodiment of theinvention is illustrated. With reference to the previous drawings, likereference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

Two panels 12 of the retaining arrangement are provided as inserts 38,40 in the interior of the cabinet 34. For this purpose, the interior ofthe cabinet 34 has the frame 72.

The insert 38 has a mounting hinge 78. The hinge 78 of the insert 38 isreceived in vertically aligned holes 76 of the flanges 74 for pivotallymounting the inserts 38, 40 relative to the cabinet 34. It is to benoted that the insert 38 carries the hinge 78 and the insert 40 ishinged to the insert 38 via hinges 84.

For assisting in pivoting of the inserts 38, 40 relative to each otherand relative to the cabinet 34, the inserts 38, 40 have feet 80. Inaddition, to enable the inserts 38, 40 to be carried, handles 82 aredefined in the inserts 38, 40.

The insert 38 includes a lock 86 for locking the inserts 38, 40 to theframe 72.

The insert 38 includes, on its operatively inner side 12.1 a surroundinglip or skirt 88. This skirt 88 overlies a similar, but shorter, skirt 90of the insert 40 and defines a gap 92 between the inserts 38 and 40 whenthe inserts 38 and 40 are locked together. A length L (FIG. 14) of thegap 92 is significantly less than a length of a shortest key 26 of thekey holder 20 so that, should an attempt be made to withdraw the keyholder 20 from the slot 14, for example, from the insert 38, a free endof the key 26 will abut against an interior surface 12.1 of the insert40 thereby inhibiting withdrawal of the key through the transverse part18 of the slot 14. It will be appreciated that a similar situationapplies in respect of any key holder 20 on the insert 40.

Further, instead of this safety feature being applicable only withrespect to the two inserts 38 and 40, when locked together, a similararrangement could apply with respect to a single panel 12. When thesingle panel 12 is in its locked position in the cabinet 34, a gapbetween the panel 12 and, for example, a rear wall of the cabinet 34 issuch that it is much less than the length of the shortest key of the keyholder 20 to inhibit withdrawal of the key holder 20 from its slot 14.Another embodiment may make use of an elastomeric packing sheet (notshown) against which keys 26 of the key holders 20 bear when the panel12 is in its locked position in the cabinet 34 to inhibit withdrawal ofthe keys 26 through the transverse parts 18 of their associated slots14.

The cabinet 34 makes use of anti-jemmying features on the door 44 and onthe part of the cabinet 34 surrounding the door 44. The anti-jemmyingfeatures, firstly, include a reentrant flange 94 arranged adjacent ahinge 96 of the door 44 and a corresponding re-entrant flange 98arranged on the cabinet. Should the hinge 96 be removed while the door44 is in its closed position and an attempt made to force the door 44,for example, by inserting a screw driver into a gap 95, the flange 98engages the flange 94 thereby inhibiting removal of the door 44 from thecabinet 34.

A further anti-jemmying feature of the cabinet 34 is the use of are-entrantly folded lip or edge 100 on the remaining edges of the door44. This edge 100 is aligned with a similarly re-entrant lip or edge 102in a recessed region 104 of the cabinet 34. Further, as illustrated moreclearly in FIG. 19 of the drawings, the edge 100 of the door 44 isinterrupted by slots 106 to define a plurality of discrete tabs 108.Should an attempt be made to force the door 44 by inserting a screwdriver or other device in a gap 110 between the edge of the door 44 andthe cabinet, by bending the tab 108 in the direction of arrow 112 theedge 100 engages the edge 102 serving to lock the door to the cabinet34. Also, due to the fact that the edge 100 of the door 44 is comprisedof discrete tabs 108 it is only that tab which bends. This makes it verydifficult for somebody to force the door 44 as only the individual tabs108 will be bent rather than the entire edge 100 of the door.

It is an advantage of the invention that a retaining arrangement 10 isprovided which enables key holders 20 to be stored in an arrangement inwhich they are clearly visible. In so doing, a person can, at a glance,tell when a particular key holder 20 has been removed from the retainingarrangement 10. Also, the arrangement of the slots 14 and tags 24facilitates the rapid mounting of the key holders 20 on the retainingarrangement 10 and in such-a way that the key holders 10 are clearlyidentifiable. Large numbers of key holders 20 can be stored while stillenabling their tags 24 to be readily visible.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive.

What is claimed is:
 1. A retaining arrangement for retaining a keyholder of a type comprising a tag suspended from a ring with the ringalso holding at least one key, the retaining arrangement including: asurface defining element; and at least one retaining means defined bythe surface defining element, the at least one retaining means being inthe form of a substantially T-shaped slot defined in the surfacedefining element to receive the tag of the key holder through it suchthat the key of the key holder lies on one side of the surface definingelement and the tag lies on an opposed, operatively outer side of thesurface defining element and the ring being received at least partiallywithin the slot.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1 in which the surfacedefining element is in the form of a panel.
 3. The arrangement of claim1 in which the slot is substantially cruciform in shape having alongitudinal part and a transverse part which intersects thelongitudinal part.
 4. The arrangement of claim 3 which the transversepart of the slot intersects the longitudinal part inwardly of one end ofthe longitudinal part so that said one end of the longitudinal partextends beyond the transverse part.
 5. The arrangement of claim 3 inwhich the longitudinal part of the slot has a length which allows it toaccommodate the ring of more than one key holder.
 6. The arrangement ofclaim 1 in which a plurality of slots is defined in the surface definingelement so that the surface defining element can hold a number of keyholders.
 7. The arrangement of claim 1 in which the surface definingelement includes a mounting formation for mounting it to a supportstructure.
 8. The arrangement of claim 7 in which the mounting formationis a hinge for hingedly attaching the surface defining element to thesupport structure.
 9. The arrangement of claim 7 which includes alocking means carried on the surface defining element for locking thesurface defining element in position relative to the support structure.10. The arrangement of claim 9 in which the support structure includes abacking member which is arranged adjacent said one side of the surfacedefining element so that, when the surface defining element is in itslocked position relative to the support structure, the backing memberinhibits unauthorised removal of the key holder from the surfacedefining element.
 11. The arrangement of claim 10 in which the backingmember is a second surface defining element hingedly carried by thesupport structure, the surface defining elements being spaced from eachother by a gap so that, when both surface defining elements are in theirlocked position, the gap has a width dimension, as measured between saidone side of the surface defining element and an operatively outer sideof the second surface defining element, which is less than a length of ashortest key carried by a key holder of either surface defining elementfor inhibiting unauthorised withdrawal of said key holder from itsassociated surface defining element.
 12. The arrangement of claim 9 inwhich the support structure comprises a cabinet with the surfacedefining element being hingedly mounted in a chamber defined by thecabinet.
 13. The arrangement of claim 12 in which the chamber is closedoff by a closure element, the closure element including a locking devicefor locking it in position relative to the cabinet.
 14. The arrangementof claim 13 in which the closure element is the surface definingelement.
 15. The arrangement of claim 13 in which the closure elementand a closure element surround of the cabinet have anti-jemmyingfeatures for inhibiting unauthorised access being gained to the chamberof the cabinet.
 16. The arrangement of claim 12 in which the cabinet isportable, the arrangement including a mounting means for mounting thecabinet to a backing structure.
 17. The arrangement of claim 16 in whichthe mounting means includes a securing means for lockably securing thecabinet to the backing structure.
 18. The arrangement of claim 1 inwhich, where the key holder holds a key having a thickness approximatingthat of the tag, an excluder element is mounted on the ring of the keyholder, the excluder element, in use, being arranged on said one side ofthe surface defining element.